vito
Member
I've always relied on, for good or bad, my handguns for home defense. As I age and must recognize that the last thing I can risk is to get into physical combat with an intruder, I'm considering getting a shotgun to keep at the ready in my home. My question has to do with barrel length, i.e., what is considered ideal for this purpose? I understand that a shorter barrel makes the gun easier to manuver inside the home, but see both 18 inch and 20 inch models for sale. Assuming I am buying a 12 gauge pump shotgun, is there a significant difference in effectiveness and ability to hit what I aim at between the 18 inch and the 20 inch. My ability to hit the target with a revolver is markedly affected by a 2 inch difference, i.e., a 2 inch snubbie versus a 4 inch standard barrel, but in a shoulder fired shotgun, does it really matter at all?